as much as to say, "Why all this subterfuge;"
but Krantz gave him a sign to leave him to speak.

"You say you don't know whether your captain is alive or dead?"

"I do."

"Now, suppose I was to give you your liberty, would you have any
objection to sign a paper, stating his death, and swearing to the truth
of it?"

Philip stared at the Commandant, and then at Krantz.

"I see no objection, exactly; except that if it were sent home to
Holland we might get into trouble. May I ask, Signor Commandant, why
you wish for such a paper?"

"No!" roared the little man, in a voice like thunder. "I will give no
reason, but that I wish it; that is enough; take your choice--the
dungeon, or liberty and a passage by the first vessel which calls."

"I don't doubt--in fact--I'm sure, he must be dead by this time,"
replied Krantz, drawling out the words in a musing manner. "Commandant,
will you give us till to-morrow morning to make our calculations?"

"Yes, you may go."

"But not to the dungeon, Commandant," replied Krantz; "we are not
prisoners certainly; and, if you wish us to do you a favour, surely you
will not ill-treat us?"

"By your own acknowledgment you have taken up arms against the most
Christian King; however, you may remain at liberty for the night--
to-morrow morning will decide whether or no you are prisoners."

Philip and Krantz thanked the little Commandant for his kindness, and
then hastened away to the ramparts. It was now dark, and the moon had
not yet made her appearance. They sat there on the parapet enjoying the
breeze, and feeling the delight of liberty even after their short
incarceration; but, near to them, soldiers were either standing or
lying, and they spoke but in whispers.

"What could he mean by requiring us to give a certificate of the
captain's death; and why did you answer as you did?"

"Philip Vanderdecken, that I have often thought of the fate of your
beautiful wife, you may imagine; and when I heard that she was brought
here, I then trembled for her. What must she appear, lovely as she is,
when placed in comparison with the women of this country? And that
little Commandant--is he not the very person who would be taken with her
charms? I denied our condition, because I thought he would be more
likely to allow us our liberty as humble individuals, than as captain
and first-mate; particularly as he suspects that we led on the Ternate
people to the attack; and when he asked for a c